State seizes Mahopac eatery for failure to pay sales taxes

MAHOPAC, N.Y.—A popular Mahopac restaurant was seized last week by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for failure to pay sales tax.

Agents from the department descended upon the Lakehouse Restaurant and Bar, located at 825 South Lake Blvd., along with officers from the Carmel Police Department on Thursday, March 20.

Carmel PD Chief Anthony Hoffmann said his officers were there to “keep the peace and maintain order.”

“[The state agents] offered us no other information,” Hoffmann said. “They were there to perform their official duties.”

Hoffmann said the action went smoothly and his officers didn’t have to get involved.

“We had no interaction with anyone,” he said, noting that it is not unusual for the state to use local law enforcement for such missions. 

“When they did the smoke shop enforcement last year they had the [local] state troopers there,” the chief said.

The building that houses the restaurant belongs to Nicole Stern and her father, former town councilman Mike Barile. Stern said that despite rumors and speculation on social media, her family had nothing to do with the seizure.

“They didn’t pay their sales tax, it had nothing to do with us,” she said. “This is a first-time experience for me. [The state] takes possession and gives them a week to make the payment or come up with a payment plan.”

Stern said the owner of the restaurant, Fatmir Osmanaj, a town of Carmel resident, has been a good tenant for the past five years.

“He was right up to date with his rent, and we’ve always had a cordial relationship,” she said.

Stern said Osmanaj stopped by her office on Friday and said he is fulfilling his tax obligations and plans to reopen the Lakehouse this week.

“We have to wait and see if he can fix things with the [state],” she said. “This has nothing to do with the landlord. Our taxes are paid. We have to wait it out.”

Stern said some of the online speculation was off the mark;  she just wants to set the record straight.

“[With the police there] it looked like this big, dramatic scene and that brings out the trolls,” she said. 

Stern said she is not worried if Osmanaj can’t make amends with the state.

“We’ve already had four people call to see if [the building] is available,” she said. “It’s been crazy, so we’re not concerned.”

Calls to the restaurant on Friday got a recorded message.